Bloody Orange Smoothie

It’s no trick, this really is the perfect healthy Halloween smoothie treat! Unlike other seasonal sweets, our Bloody Orange Smoothie offers up a host of nutrients guaranteed to help you—and your heart—feel extra-good. Loaded with antioxidants like anthocyanins, flavonoids, and phenolic acids, as well as other vitamins and essential health-supporting compounds, this Halloween smoothie looks dramatic, tastes delicious, and ensures you’ll be feeling your spirited best.

Try this tasty blood orange smoothie recipe to get yourself into the holiday mood. Or whip up a batch of this vibrantly-colored concoction to serve at a party! This Halloween smoothie makes the perfect, healthy addition to any Halloween spread. We guarantee guests will be sucking it down by the pint.

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Servings: 1

Ready In: 5 minutes

Ingredients

1 blood orange, peeled and sliced

1 cup frozen pineapple

1/2 cup beets, peeled and sliced

1 tablespoon beet powder

1/2 cup orange juice

Instructions

Place the blood orange, peeled and sliced, in your blender or food processor.

Add 1 cup of frozen pineapple and 1/2 cup of peeled, sliced beets (if not cooked, be sure the blender or food processor you use is up to breaking down raw beets!).

Sprinkle in 1 tablespoon beet powder.

Pour in 1/2 cup orange juice.

Blend until the mixture has a smooth, slushy consistency.

Feel free to add festive touches as a garnish, like bat wings or fangs.

Health Benefits

Blood orange: this fruit gets its memorable hue from anthocyanins, pigments that not only pack a potent punch when it comes to coloration but also when it comes to your health. A multitude of studies have found that, thanks to their high antioxidant activity, consuming anthocyanin-rich foods decreases your risk of developing chronic conditions including cancer, heart disease, and type 2 diabetes.

Pineapple: is another rich source of antioxidants, particularly flavonoids and phenolic acids. Plus, the antioxidants in pineapple are bound, meaning they survive longer within your body, leading to longer-lasting benefits from a single serving.

Beets and beet powder: several studies show they can substantially lower blood pressure (by 4-10 mmHg) over a period of just a few hours! Researchers believe the effect comes from the high concentration of nitrates found in beets. Your body converts the nitrates to nitric acid, a molecule that dilates blood vessels, allowing your blood pressure to drop.

Orange juice: just as health-promoting as the flashier blood orange, the standard variety contains generous doses of fiber, potassium, choline, and, of course, vitamin C—all of which support heart health. There’s strong evidence supporting potassium in particular, as it appears to lower your overall risk of heart disease as well as your risk of stroke.